VOL. XIII. 4orrqipimiIettty TRANSPORTATION MATTERS. Editor Willamette Farmer: In this letter I propose to consider the public improvements required to reduce the cost of transportation and tho advantages we may xpect to result from those improvements to the farmers of Oregon and the Columbia river basin. The first in order, since wo must con sider great Britain as our great market for our staple product, is tho transportation between tho Columbia river and Europe. This now amounts at this writing to about 63 cents per bushel. It is very high because of a temporary scarcity of vessels in the Pacific. If we now had the sthmus canal completed the ad vantages, of which I gave you in my last let ter such high rates between here aud'Europe would not bo possible. San Francisco and tho Columbia river could ho supplied with steamers in thirty days which would carry the grain to Europe at ten cents per bushel less than now carried from San Francisco or Portland by sail vessels. Our grain and flour could at all times be carried from tho Pacific Coast choapcr by steamer than around the Horn by sail vessels. And again, when there is a scarcity of crops in the Eastern States and Europe as at present, we could ship by steamer from San Francisco or the Columbia river as late as tfie first of Mayor June, and yet the steamer cargo would arrive in Eng land before the next harvest. The Panama canal work is progressing finely, and its pro prietors now feel confidfipt that it will be completed in four years instead of six years, as first proposed. In order that the cost of transportation may be further reduced, the Columbia river bar must be improved, by scouring or otherwise, o that the largest vessels may enter and de part safely and without delay. It may seom unnecessary for me to state that it is neces sary for the vessel which carries the grain to nter the river in order to be loaded. We are not yet acquainted with any means by which vessels' cargoes can be loaded into them while the vessels are outside of the Columbia river bar cheaply and safely. If any such means were known the improvement of the bar would not be so important. But at present the size of vessels we caa employ in carrying our grain is restricted to that which can cross tha Columbia bar safely at high tide. This draft of vessels at present is twenty-three feet. This depth admits of large vesiel, it is true, but not so large as we want in order to have our products carried to Europe the cheapest. We should have four to six feet more water on the bar to allow the deepest vessels which load at San Francisco to load in the Columbia river. The distance that is to be deepened on tho bar is less than a mile and a half. Would it not be well to have the as sistance of James B. Eads of St. Louis, who has achieved such a great success at the mouth of the Mississippi, in this important work. From what is already written you may anticipate that I believe the improvement of the Columbia river above its mouth is of secondary importance. So I do, and because the barges that do not require any deeper water than we now have in the Columbia can tarry our grain from Portland, Cascades or The Dalhata the mouth of tho river to be put in the deep ships as cheap, if not cheeper, than large vessels can carry it by ruing up the Columbia for it. Next, the improvement of the Cascades, or the construction of the locks there, is equal in importance to the iirprovemont of the Co lumbia river bar. After the completion of the locks, grain and freight can be carried at one half of the present rates profitably from all points below and including The Dalles, and one half the work will be done for the lelief of all the settlements along the Columbia river and its tributaries alone. ITo summarize, then, in my opinion our en ergies should be concentrated in obtaining the improvemeut of the Columbia bar, which will lessen the transportation on wheat, say seven to ten cents a bushel, on the average, and the completion of the locks and canal at the Cascades, which will lessen the cost of transportation some seven and a half centi per bushel on wheat, and many dollars per ton on other freight. The Isthmus canal is getting along well enough. It does not ask help nor subsidy, only to be let alone by oar government. Yours, Transportation Student. Flax Culture In the Willamette Valley. In spite of the natural richness of the soil in this State, which allows of the raising of successive grain crops for a much longer period than in other less favored states, it is nevertheless obvious that at some time or other the land must be farmed out, unless it I is in Borne way renewed. Consequently, of late, many experienced farmers have been ad vocating rotation of crops, by which means the land need never be idle, and better grain crops can be raised. One of the best crops a farmer can put in the place of wheat or oats, and ono of tho most paying is. undoubtedly, flax. But all laud is not suited to it, and the first consider' ation of the farmer should be, is tho land ho holds suitable to produco a profitable crop of flax. Land intended for flax must be in ijooil condition, and clean. Here is where so many go wrong; they pick out the foulest and most useless pieces of land, and think that if they are of no U30 at all for anything else, they will put them in flax, and then they are sur prised the crop they get off tbem docs not pay. Besides putting it in foul land, some do not think north while taking so much trouble in putting in a flax crop as a grain crop ; we know of an instance of a farmer not taking the trouble to harrow in the seed. Such men as these will go round the country and say that flax growing does not pay any way, and that will open the farmers' eyes, by writing to the papers and showing them that such is a fact. Such men as these ought (?) to be good authorities 1 If flax is sown in clean land, well worked, it will pay twice as well as a good wheat crop. To prove, wo will mention an instance : A farmer put in an acre and a quarter of flax on tho west side of the Willamette, at Al bany ; after the crop was harvested and scutched, the yield of lint amounted to 694 pounds, and in addition he had 9 bushols of seed. The West Coast Flax Mills, of Albany, undertook the rotting and scutching for half the lint, and bought the other half at 12 cents a pou d. The seed was his own, and the only expense he was put to after the crop was in, was the pulling, which may be estimated at $6.00 an acre, and the hau'.ing 21 miles to the ponds. His seed was worth $13, and he got $33.05 for his half of the lint, making togeth er $48.G5 for an acre and a quarter of flax. Any farmer can do the same if he puts his crop in good, clean land, plows deep in the winter, and again light in tho spring, and harrows well. Of course the land must be good; white soil v. ill not raise a good crop; sandy loam and rich bottomland are the best. The proper time for sowing flax is at the be ginning of April ; all flax should be iu at the end of that month ; on very sandy land it is better to put it in a little earlier in order to get tho full benefit of the rains. About one and one-fourth bushels should be sown to the acre. It is important that the land should be well pulverized before sowing. After the flax is about three inches high it should be well rolled, in order to pack the earth round the roots, and give the flax a firm bed. When ready for pulling, the stock near the bottom will become a pale yellow, and the leaves will fall off about eight or ten inches from the ground, and the top seed balls will assume a slight brownish hue. If pulled too young, the fibre will be tender, and loss w ill occur in scutching ; if allowed to ripen to much, the flax will be coarso and dry. China labor is always employed for pulling in this valley ; it takes from five to six China- men to pull an acre in a day. The most important process in the whole,and where tho most judgment is required, is in rotting. The length of time the flax requires to be in the water, varies according to the temperature ; in ionic instances it will be sufficiently rotted in five days, in others, it will tako ten dayB. The water should be just as deep as the flax is tall. The flax is sunk by means of plank with rock on them. No water should be allowed to run through the ponds while the flax is in. Fermentation will set in immediately if the water is warm, which will cause the flax to riso and come to the surface if not sufficiently weighted. As soon as the fermentation subsides it will sink. In order to find out if it is ready to take out, pull out a few spears and bend them gently over the fore-finger, and should the woody part separate freely from the fibre, and start up, it is time to take it out. It is well to leave the flax piled aronnd tho edge of the ponds for a day, after taking it out, to drain, as it can then be more easily handled. It should lie ready to bind up and haul away in three days from the time it is spread, if the weather is fine; if, however, the ground is damp; it is well to lift it and shock it, leaving sufficient time for the air to dry it thoroughly before hauling to the warehouse or scutch mill. There is nodoubt that the soil and climate of Oregon, especially of the Willamette Valley, ar particulaily adapted to raisintr flax; any one inutt acknowledge this, who has seen sam ples of this yeai's crop, some of the spcari meuureing over nve lect in lengtn ; ami there is no doubt that before many years. tbix wi I become one of the sUple products ef the Willamette valley, J. l. 11 PORTLAND, -OREGON, The Whitman Monument. Walla Walla, October 11, 1881. Editor Willamette Farmer: Last Sunday, Oct. 7th, I spent at the old Mission station of Dr. Whitman. Nearly thir ty-four years have passed since last I saw it, and time has wrought many changes, more especially iu tho river. I find land now whero it was water then, and the channel that flow ed near tho house is now quite a distance back. I was able to trace the site of 'the different buildings and the grist mill, but find the old mill pond now covered with a forest, some of tho trees measuring over four feet in circum ference. The fine view which we used to have of theBlue Mountains is now completely hid by forest. Uncle Charlie Swcaglo now owns the place, and ho thinks that I must be mistaken in re feience to tho change in the river and the growth of the timber. Bat I showed him the very place whero Dr. Whitman's child fell in and was drowned, which at that time had cur rent enough to carry her half a mile below, A'hcre she was found lodged in the root of a fallen tree. Now, at this time a year, it is empty, with the exception of a small stream that can be stepped across, and the land where tho water once flowed, is sowed to grass, 1 gathered apples from the doctoral trees, and cut a couple of canes from' the limbs. Again, after tho lapse of a generation, I stood iu the gravo yard, not as formerly, to gaze upon the forms of loved ones torn by the voracious wolves, but upon the mount .where rest the remains of tho thirteen victims of savage cruelty, lime has obliterated all traces of my sister's and Helen Mcek's grave, and it was with difficulty that I found the gravn of Alice Whitman. All is neglected; even the fence that at some time has been placed around the doctor's grave has gone to decay. What has become of the monument that was going t be put there t The lumber for the fence has been lying at the station for a year, and will soon be sold to pay for ex penses. Mr. Sweagle is willing to give them two acres and five years to build the mon ument, but he says be is not going to wait to eternity for them to act. Then, there is ao way to get to the grave yard, and some steps must be taken to secure this way.' I hope that this matter will be looked after. I find the people in this part of the country anxious to see the monument completed, and would all assist if they saw- any prospect of its being done. There are somo of the wheels of the doctor's grist mill and points from his plows, which are being kept by parties here, to place at tho grave, in connection with tho monument. I am now engaged in lecturing on the Whitman mas sacre. C. S. FniNfJLE. Notb by Editor. Mrs. Pnngle was one of the children saved from the massacre, after the death of most of her family. Her maiden name was Sagt-r. Letter from George Belshaw. Euap.NE Citv, October 13, 1881. Editor Willametto Farmer: Please give notice that I accept the kind in vitation of the Siuslaw Agricultural Society to deliver the Annual Address at thir fair, which commences October 19, 1881. If the weather remains favorable I shall ex hibit, at their request, 12 bushels of wheat of different varieties, all white but one; about 80 different samples in glass, and neaily 100 va rieties in tho straw. I do not know what pre miums are ottered, and care tittle as I consider all premiums paid at fairs amount to but very little to the exhibitors. The main benefit re ceived by exhibitors, is that by bringing their productions, mechanical arts, grain, etc., and plaoing them side by side, the agriculturist may learn the difference in worth and cultiva tion of the different productions presented. The stock raiser will purchase better breeds of stock and improve his herds. I shall contend for the best sheaf of wheat, same of oats; and for the best display of grains grown by ono man; best bushel of wheat of twelve varieties, and the best bushel of any kind as sweep stakes. I shall exhibit my wheat more parti cularly because of invitations fiom a number of emigrants lately arrived, who think of miking their home in Lane county. I should like for wheat growers all over tho county to compete with me for tho best, of the moit merit, and nearest perfection. Georoe Delsaaw. We allude in our report of the Mcclianici' Fair to the line display of cereals made there by Mr. C. P. Burkhart, of Albany, and wo learn, since writing, it that he was too unwell to be really able to box and send a full assort ment from his collection, and another fact that should bs noted is tint Mr. Burkhart lias not been collecting grains from other farmers to make an exhibit of but that the samples shown are grown by himself, which adds mate- I mUy to the merit due him in that connection. ar-- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1881. ONION COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Notes by Our Special Report on tho Grounds Races, Etc. La Grande, Or., Oct. 17, 1881. Editor Willamette Farmer: '' Tho ninth annual fair of tho Union County Agricultural Society concluded Oct. 15th. At the start every indication was of a successful and pleasant fair. But, on Tuesday, it began snowing, and continued almost uninterrupted ly until tho closo, and has snowed to-day. Ercrythiug was woll arranged, and the pro grtimni was ono of the best. In tho speed programme there were somo very excellent purses, and as a consequence, tho finest lot of horses that over camo together in this upper country met thero to contend. The display of draft horses was good, as well'us of thorough breds. Tho cattle show was good, and prizes were hotly contested for by Messrs, O. P. Goodall and Georgo Ames, both of whom have herds of excellent Durhams. Mr. Jno. Peach had on tho grounds a full blood Jersey, that attracted universal attention and was much admiied. There was a splendid exhibit of Berkshire, Macee, and graded hogs. Messrs. Childers and W. J. Snodgrass were the com petitors. Mr. Childers took several pre miums for Berk8hires,but Mr. Snodgrass took first premiums on all animals exhibited. Mr. Snodgrass has excellent breeds of Berkshires, Magces and Chester Whites, and imported them from the East at an expense of over SI, 200. The production of pork in this section is of considerable importance, and Mr. Snodgrass sees the necessity of improving by using the Berkshircs, which are of acknowledged merit. Messrs. Ronald and Allen exhibited pens of sheep, and carried a good number of first pre miums. A number of coops of poultry were on exhibition. Tha pavilion was well filled byjtkj ladies' display; as well as the display of fruits and vegetables. In the ladies' depart ment were good showings of cakes, pies, bread, jellies and needlework. On the wall hung a number ot sketches, etchings and paintings. I was well pleased with those of Miss Holmes, especially her sketches from nature, and one in particular of a pansy and daisy on a panel has rare merit. The exhibit of fruit was tho best I ever looked at, and in cluded many varieties. The only fault was the absence of peaches, plums and prunes. Apples do exceptionally well and mature well. The vegetable exhibit was comprehensive and worthy of a fuller mention. But space for bids. The speed programme was well filled, and under tho circumstances, (the track being very heavy) good time was made. The 50-mile race was hotly contested for by Messrs. C. Steers and Henry Green. Mr. Steers winning the race and first money in 1 hour and 69J minutes. Tho riders each had ten relay horses and rodo each horso ono mile. At no time during the race was Mr. Steers over one-third of a mile ahead. Tho entire raco showed ex ceptionally good horsemanship. Mr. Steers was suffering from a sprained ankle, and had the misfortune to have one horse fall on him, and of being unseated by the starters, hut finally won in the above named time, which is the best known. I append tho premium list and speed trials, as they were taken off the books of the Secre tary, I acknowledge courtesies from tho So ciety, wu, J. Clarke. Wheat In Bulk Now that wo are assured of tho certain completion of a railroad from Walla Walla to Portland before next harvest, and the proba ble completion within a year of a through railway connection with Pngct Sound, tho propriety of shipping Walla Walla wheat in bulk is being discussed. As the v heat busi ness is now being carried on here, the pro ducer or the buyer, or both, has to stand, hot only the cost of freighting sacks an J twine up here, but the cost of repairing damaged sacks and a great deal of outlay for resacking the wheat which reaches Portland in torn and badly dirtcd sacks. Then too, it is htld by those who should know, that it costs the producer more for labor to sack his wheat here than the same amount and kind of work cen 1 done'for'at tho shipping point' If the wheat were shipped in bulk from this country it could bo emptied into tho warehouses at Portland anil Tacoma, cleaned, sacked anil loaded in A. I, order. Byihipping wheat in this manner tho appearance, if not tho quality of the grain would bo improved, and an in crease in price, in excess of the cost of so do ing, would follow, Walla Walla wheat is equal to any. But as somo dirty lots find their w ty to market the price of all is decreas ed. Wallr Walla Union. Dr. Glenn's crop in Upper California, this year, was only 100,000 sacks agaiust 400,000 socks last year. Of this year's crop the doc tor will have to save 35,000 sacks for seed, lo that he has only 65,000 sacks for market. Fuyallup Hop Yards. A correspondent of tho Vancouver Inde pendent gives the following interesting des cription : The town of Puyallnp is situated about 40 miles' from Tucoma. It is situated i i a valley of great fertility. All tho fruits of tho temperato zone can be here raised in perfection, except peaches and grapes; also all sorts of vegetables. Indian corn is not a suc cess here, on account of tho cool and moist climate. But hops aro grown 'in great perfec tion and profusion. Iudeed, no soil or climate could bo better for this product thai' is fouud here. Consequently a large portion of the country around Puyallup and also farther up tho valley is devoted to tho raising of hops; and this is the most important agricultural iutercst of the Puyallup Valley. Very few persons realize tho magnitude which the rais ing of hops in this valley has already at tained. Among other extensive hop raisers is mentioned the name of Mr. Van Ogle, who has sixty acres of old hop ground, and who has added fourteen acres mors this year, making sccuty-four asies. Ho is said to have harvested ail average of 1,500 pounds of hops per acre, and as hops have brought this year from fifteen to eighteen cents per pound, it follows that Mr. V. O , must have received 1250 per acre, of which more than one-half, perhaps two-thirds, is clear profit. A passenger on tho cars give the following graphic skotch of tho hop-picking time : " When the season for hop picking arrives,'' said ho, "the canoes of tho Indians look liko small fleets on bay or river. About 2,000 persons are required to do tho work of pick iug, and tho Indians flock to the hop district from every quarter to get a chance to earn some money, and they consider this season as their harvest time, whieh it is iu reality. Their mods of living has qualified them for the work of picking hops. They come to the hop yards with all their earthly possessions, including not only their squaws and pappooses, but their dogs, cats and even hens and roost ers. They pitch their tents within conveni ent distance of their work, and it is a sight to see tho women carrying pappooscs on their backs, they and tho children doinir all the work, while tho noble warrior himself, dis daining labor, is not too proud to tako the wages earned by them, and struts around with great dignity of manner, and condescends to drink or gamble away the earnings of the let us say it in sober truth better half of his bosom. But who could find fault ? Is he not big Indian ? Is he not ' nature's nobleman V " lam sorry that it is not in my power to give accurate statistical information concern ing tho hop culture of tho Puyallup bottoms. It is supposed that the hops exported from this vslloy bring in return not far from $250,000, which would indicate that about fifteen or sixteen hundred acres are cultivated iu this staple. The crop of this year is the largest over gathered, and tho quality supe rior. The cliuiato is highly advantageous for this crop by reason of tho cool atmosphere, tho absence of hot, scorching sunshiiio and especially by tho long time allurded to do the picking, as frosts larcly prevail before tho middle of October, Tho Locks Necessary A question which will sooner or lator be a live ono among the lesidcnts of Oregon and Washington is relating to freo and uniiitcr uptcd navigation of tho Columbia river ft run Kettle falls, near Colvillc, to Astoria. With all the due deference to any wisu management of those w ho now hold a key to tho granaries of Eastern Oregon mid Washington, wo must say that it will be u happy event when the last stroku is inadu which will give any man or set of men an opportunity tu ship freight np or down the Columbia at rates which compensate fully for tho service, and shall leave a surplus for producers over tho cost of production, for this end it is highly neces sary that thu Cascade locks he brought to an early completion, and that work should be commenced at tho Dalles. Every icauouablu effort should be put forth by individuals both private and publio to urgo government appro priations ample to push this work rapidly for ward. With this single issue aro united the prosperity of thoucands of people who live east of tho Cascade mountains iu Oregon, Idaho and Washington, Tho Columbia rivir cannot bo opened to freo and uninterrupted navigation without national aid. Wo have a right to expect this, as tho great Columbia is a national highway; deiigned by nature as an outlet for a large and productive scojxi of country. But for a few miles along tho Co lumbia is navigation interrupted. These few miles of obstructions ought to bo overcome by the government in order to open tho river to steamers, so as to benefit tho population of a country 300 by 500 mile-sin extent. AW. ant Timtt. NO. 36. Wk send out, on postal cards, statements of aicnunts to many subscribers, asking for re newals. Tho timo of year has como when farmers gouerallyrecoivomonoyfor their crops and our subscriptions mostly fall duo at this season. We hope that our friends wilj cheerfully and promptly comply with our request for re. newala and show their good will by paying cash in advance, as wc must hereafter insist on that principle of doing business. Among tho farmers of tho North Pacifio wo venture to believe that no other journal has so many friends as tho Willamette Farmer, which fact becomes evident whenovcrwogo among tho people; but as we cannot canvaRS iu person, or procure competent and reliable per sons to do so, w o must depend, as heretofore, on tho kind services of friends. Wo hereby renew tho offer we lsive mado for years past, to send tho Willamette Farmer, for ono year, as a premium to any ono who will procure us threo cash subscribers who aro not now on the list. Or wo will allow iu that proportion, four months' subscription for every $2.50 sont fot now names, and if any person wishes to work up a olub iu his or her viciuity of new nnmrt, they can writo to us for terms, as wo desire good canvassing dono in all directions. With tho coming of better times wo intend to work for increase of business, and as we have the pleasantest possible proof of tho con fidence and kind feeling entertained for tho i-AUMER among tho people, wo beliovo our circulation, which is already largo, can be greatly iucrcaacd. Wo shall use postal cards for all business with subscribers, because they are cheap and convenient, and wore mado for that purpose, and wo shall tako it for granted that no sensi ble man will consider it an offense to do so. Wo have heard of cases whero people have been indignant at receiving a postal card through tho mail, Btating an account, but if thero is any secresy to the mail, it extends to postal cardB as well as to letters. Bpokan Products. Tho Cheney Tribune, says nn interesting feature of the offices of tho N. P. R. H. Co. at that placo is t'io display nmdo thero of grain and vegetables of Eastern Washington, hut more especially in tho vicinity of Cheney in Spokano comity. Tho magnificent bay win dow is filled in nicely arranged order with samples of grains and grasses from every part of the county and Eastern Washington, Spo kano Falls being assigned a conspicuous place iu the oxlnbition. On a tabh) are n collection af vegetables raised near Cheney, and to ono side a cabinet of curious and ornamental col lection of natural productions of tho country will bo interesting to visitors. In tho center of tho room are a tier of shclvos in circular shape, filled with regularly sized bottles of grains. All specimens are labeled with tho name of contributor, when sown, when har vested, etc. Tho "Swamps" of Cheney con tribute no small amount to tho general ill's play. A stuffed prairio chicken sits perched on one side of tho window and a fine specimen of tho jay bird occupies tho other sido, whilo on tho walls aboo are deers' heads, also a fine looking buffalo head. To the ladies of Cheney belongs a large portion of credit iu arranging the grasses and grains as ulso the general ornamental work of tho oflieo. The height of tho world's atmosphere, ac cording to tho result arrived at by by M. Laudier from his various inrestigations, is 22,000 miles, instead of 250, as previously named. Jle corroborates this calculation by showing that tho height at which meteoric matter becomes incandescent, on approaching thoiarth, is far beyond the distance hereto foro assigned to it, and therefore thero must ho an atmosphere of that greater distance, to produce tho incandescence. Ho also accounts for tho spectrum of tho aurora horcalis, show, lugamurked coincidence with that of tho zodiacal light, hy tho theory that, since tho earth travel In tho zodiacal nebulosity from September to May, tho rarefied atmosphere beyond tho earth's hcav y envelope of air must absorb soma of tho constituent cleiiwnts of the zodiacal nebulosity, ami thus those elo. ments mako their presence apparent in thu spectrum of the aurora, whbli phenomenon occurs in.the rarified outer envelope. Conhimkiiaui.k inquiry Ins been made re ceutlyin rcferenco to the workings of that "Northwestern Marriage Company." It is a big thing when you como to understand it. Suppose an unmarried lady or gentleman takes out a 310,000 policy, at say ?00 premium, and marries alter six mouths or within twelve months from the dato of the policy, he or she will bo entitled to receive niin.fmirtl, nftl.n amount of the policy, vizi $2,500, which would . .juivo a proiiy sum w It It which to commence housekeeping. If marriage is postponed to the second year, the party would icceivo one. half; and if postponed to threo years, three. -& t fi w' tfc: i J I '11 w & i'p ava